In solidarity with teachers, doctors will take part in a picket on the remuneration of university teachers / Article / LSM.lv

The Latvian Medical Association (LĀB) fully supports the request of the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Research Workers (LIZDA) to increase the salaries of university teachers and will participate in the 18th high picket at the government building, LĀB informed.

In a statement to the media, the association emphasized that it was in favor of increasing the rule of law and remuneration for all teachers and health care workers in the amount specified in regulatory enactments.

“Given that many health care workers are also university lecturers and researchers, it is our duty to support educators’ efforts to achieve fair compensation for all those working in the field. Since the last protests in the health care sector, LĀB and LIZDA have been cooperating closely. In this picket, we want to reaffirm the solidarity of the two most important sectors for Latvia and the maturity of Latvian civil society, “emphasized Ilze Aizsilniece, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

The association also noted that already in the spring LĀB and LIZDA, as well as other health care and education professional organizations jointly addressed an open letter to the highest state officials, requesting adequate funding in order to provide more modern and inclusive education, as well as accessible and patient-oriented education. health care. The letter reminded that in everyday life and during an emergency, educators and doctors perform their duties professionally and honestly, calling on politicians to perform their duties with equal responsibility, complying with the laws in force in Latvia.

CONTEXT:

The government in mid-June supported the allocation of 8.2 million euros for teachers’ minimum wage rates from 750 to 790 euros. However, LIZDA pointed out that the increase in remuneration has not been applied to university teachers, creating a situation of inequality. In mid-June, the government decided to postpone this issue to next year’s budget talks, thus angering LIZDA.

The amount that would be needed to increase the salaries of university teachers from September 1 this year is 380,000 euros, but a little over one million euros annually.

LIZDA has stated that it is considering the possibility of organizing protest action.

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